Title
Resolution to Approve a Participation Agreement with Scio Township, Purchase of a Conservation Easement on 10.42 Acres of the Donald T. Botsford Property Located in Scio Township, and Appropriation of Funds in the Amount of $156,000.00 (8 Votes Required)
Memorandum
Attached for your review and approval is a resolution to approve a participation agreement with Scio Township, the purchase of a conservation easement on 10.42 acres of the Donald T. Botsford property located at 3015 Miller Road in cooperation with Scio Township, and the appropriation of $156,000 from the Open Space and Parkland Preservation Bond Proceeds. Public access to this property will be provided to the conservation easement, via an Access Easement from Miller Road. Eventually, a small gravel parking lot may be established off of Miller Road.
Oak-hickory forest covers most of the hilly terrain on the site. Wildflower flora is diverse and dense, with few areas lacking groundcover. The woods provide habitat for wood thrush and scarlet tanager, which both need large forested areas for nesting. Two small perennial streams are present on the southeast portion of the site. The rare small tree wahoo (Euonymus atropurpurea) is located along the stream at the western edge of the property. Small wetlands occur along the stream channels where topography is relatively level. These areas occupy a minor part of the site and have less botanical diversity than the uplands, but together with the uplands they contribute to the overall complexity and diversity of the site.
A survey and Phase I Environmental Site Assessment have been completed on the property.
The appraised fair market value of the 10.42-acre conservation easement is $312,000. Scio Township Board of Trustees has also approved a contribution of $156,000 toward the purchase price of the easement and will cover the closing and due diligence costs. The City’s Natural Area Preservation Program staff will manage the natural area, for ...
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